20 Brilliant Cleaning Shortcuts the Pros Swear by

December 23, 2016

We’ve all looked at our messy house and wished we could just wave a magic wand and everything would be sparkling and tidy. Until someone invents that little magic wand, though, the only way to get a clean house is to, well, clean it. Luckily the professional cleaners have some tricks to get the job done quickly and efficiently. With these brilliant shortcuts, you’ll be able to clean up that mess and get back to your life in no time. By Doug Murray

Cleaning and Organization

20 Brilliant Cleaning Shortcuts the Pros Swear by

December 23, 2016

We’ve all looked at our messy house and wished we could just wave a magic wand and everything would be sparkling and tidy. Until someone invents that little magic wand, though, the only way to get a clean house is to, well, clean it. Luckily the professional cleaners have some tricks to get the job done quickly and efficiently. With these brilliant shortcuts, you’ll be able to clean up that mess and get back to your life in no time. By Doug Murray

1. Schedule a Time for Cleaning

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1. Schedule a Time for Cleaning

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According to <a href="http://organizedhome.com/clean-house/speed-clean-tips-from-cleaning-pros" target="_blank">Organized Home</a>, you need to schedule cleaning time just like you would schedule anything else in your life. When you have a set cleaning schedule, you’ll be more motivated to get up and get the job done.

1. Schedule a Time for Cleaning

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According to <a href="http://organizedhome.com/clean-house/speed-clean-tips-from-cleaning-pros" target="_blank">Organized Home</a>, you need to schedule cleaning time just like you would schedule anything else in your life. When you have a set cleaning schedule, you’ll be more motivated to get up and get the job done.

2. Invest in the Right Tools

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2. Invest in the Right Tools

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Organized Home says that well-made, durable cleaning tools will make the job much easier. You don’t need to buy fancy gadgets; just stick to good brooms, mops, and durable terry cloths.

2. Invest in the Right Tools

Organized Home says that well-made, durable cleaning tools will make the job much easier. You don’t need to buy fancy gadgets; just stick to good brooms, mops, and durable terry cloths.

3. Map Out a Route

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3. Map Out a Route

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<a href="http://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/cleaning-shortcuts/#page=1" target="_blank">Better Homes and Gardens</a> suggests that you map out a cleaning route, for example by starting with a corner room and then working your way inward. By cleaning one room at a time, you won’t have to walk back and forth.

3. Map Out a Route

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<a href="http://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/cleaning-shortcuts/#page=1" target="_blank">Better Homes and Gardens</a> suggests that you map out a cleaning route, for example by starting with a corner room and then working your way inward. By cleaning one room at a time, you won’t have to walk back and forth.

4. Tidy up First

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4. Tidy up First

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To give yourself a head start, Organized Home suggests that you first pick up anything lying around. It’s much easier to clean a surface if it isn’t littered with toys, papers, clothes, dirty dishes or other clutter.

4. Tidy up First

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To give yourself a head start, Organized Home suggests that you first pick up anything lying around. It’s much easier to clean a surface if it isn’t littered with toys, papers, clothes, dirty dishes or other clutter.

5. Use Multi-purpose Cleaners

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5. Use Multi-purpose Cleaners

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Organized Home says that professional cleaners carry a multi-purpose cleaner, a tile cleaner, a heavy-duty de-greaser and a powdered abrasive cleaner. You don’t need multiple single-purpose products.

5. Use Multi-purpose Cleaners

Organized Home says that professional cleaners carry a multi-purpose cleaner, a tile cleaner, a heavy-duty de-greaser and a powdered abrasive cleaner. You don’t need multiple single-purpose products.

6. Get Organized

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6. Get Organized

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Better Homes and Gardens says that you’ll save time by organizing your cleaning supplies so that you have the right one for the job. Keep a multi-purpose cleaner or a bleach-and-water solution in the kitchen, for instance, and laundry supplies in the laundry room, but also have a central place where you store the bulk of your cleaning supplies.

6. Get Organized

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Better Homes and Gardens says that you’ll save time by organizing your cleaning supplies so that you have the right one for the job. Keep a multi-purpose cleaner or a bleach-and-water solution in the kitchen, for instance, and laundry supplies in the laundry room, but also have a central place where you store the bulk of your cleaning supplies.

7. Use Your Dishwasher for More Than Just Dishes

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7. Use Your Dishwasher for More Than Just Dishes

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A great cleaning hack from Better Homes and Gardens is to simply put removable light fixtures, such as glass domes, in the dishwasher and let it run through a washing and drying cycle. <a href="http://www.simplemost.com/11-cleaning-shortcuts-professionals-know/" target="_blank">Simplemost</a> suggests using the dishwasher to clean oven hood filters too.

7. Use Your Dishwasher for More Than Just Dishes

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A great cleaning hack from Better Homes and Gardens is to simply put removable light fixtures, such as glass domes, in the dishwasher and let it run through a washing and drying cycle. <a href="http://www.simplemost.com/11-cleaning-shortcuts-professionals-know/" target="_blank">Simplemost</a> suggests using the dishwasher to clean oven hood filters too.

8. Wipe up Fingerprints with Olive Oil

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8. Wipe up Fingerprints with Olive Oil

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According to Simplemost, a few drops of olive oil will remove fingerprints from stainless steel surfaces.

8. Wipe up Fingerprints with Olive Oil

According to Simplemost, a few drops of olive oil will remove fingerprints from stainless steel surfaces.

9. Use Vinegar to Clean the Microwave

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9. Use Vinegar to Clean the Microwave

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Vinegar is a handy all-natural cleaner and one way to use it is to clean the microwave. Simplemost says that microwaving equal parts of water and vinegar for 5 to 10 minutes will soften stains and bits of food, which you can then simply wipe off.

9. Use Vinegar to Clean the Microwave

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Vinegar is a handy all-natural cleaner and one way to use it is to clean the microwave. Simplemost says that microwaving equal parts of water and vinegar for 5 to 10 minutes will soften stains and bits of food, which you can then simply wipe off.

10. Use a Pillowcase to Dust the Ceiling Fan

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10. Use a Pillowcase to Dust the Ceiling Fan

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Better Homes and Gardens points out that if you slip an old pillowcase over the blades of the ceiling fan, it will catch bits of dust that would otherwise have fallen onto the floor or furniture.

10. Use a Pillowcase to Dust the Ceiling Fan

Better Homes and Gardens points out that if you slip an old pillowcase over the blades of the ceiling fan, it will catch bits of dust that would otherwise have fallen onto the floor or furniture.

11. Clean Blinds with Old Socks

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11. Clean Blinds with Old Socks

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To clean the blinds the Better Homes and Gardens way, put an old sock over your hand, almost like a sock puppet, and spray some water onto it. Then grip the slats one at a time and run your hand over it, cleaning the top and bottom at the same time.

11. Clean Blinds with Old Socks

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To clean the blinds the Better Homes and Gardens way, put an old sock over your hand, almost like a sock puppet, and spray some water onto it. Then grip the slats one at a time and run your hand over it, cleaning the top and bottom at the same time.

12. Put Placemats in the Fridge

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12. Put Placemats in the Fridge

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Take the pain out of cleaning the fridge by following Simplemost’s advice of using plastic placemats on the shelves and then placing the food on top. Anything that leaks or drips will land on the placemats, which you then only need to remove and give a quick rinse or wipe.

12. Put Placemats in the Fridge

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Take the pain out of cleaning the fridge by following Simplemost’s advice of using plastic placemats on the shelves and then placing the food on top. Anything that leaks or drips will land on the placemats, which you then only need to remove and give a quick rinse or wipe.

13. Clean the Showerhead Without the Effort

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13. Clean the Showerhead Without the Effort

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Grime and mineral build-up on your showerhead can take ages to scrub off. Simplemost suggests that instead, you only need to put some vinegar in a plastic bag, tie it around the showerhead and leave it overnight. The vinegar will dissolve the gunk and the next morning you can easily wipe it off.

13. Clean the Showerhead Without the Effort

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Grime and mineral build-up on your showerhead can take ages to scrub off. Simplemost suggests that instead, you only need to put some vinegar in a plastic bag, tie it around the showerhead and leave it overnight. The vinegar will dissolve the gunk and the next morning you can easily wipe it off.

14. Use Baby Wipes to Spot-Clean Fabrics

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14. Use Baby Wipes to Spot-Clean Fabrics

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Baby wipes are gentle on fabrics and dry quickly, which makes them great for cleaning spots. However, Better Homes and Gardens warns that you shouldn’t confuse them with cleaning wipes, which could contain bleach that could ruin the fabric.

14. Use Baby Wipes to Spot-Clean Fabrics

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Baby wipes are gentle on fabrics and dry quickly, which makes them great for cleaning spots. However, Better Homes and Gardens warns that you shouldn’t confuse them with cleaning wipes, which could contain bleach that could ruin the fabric.

15. Remove Hard-water Stains With Lemon

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15. Remove Hard-water Stains With Lemon

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According to Simplemost, rubbing half a lemon over any surface with hard-water stains will break down the grime. You’ll have sparkling faucets and sinks, and your home will smell great too.

15. Remove Hard-water Stains With Lemon

According to Simplemost, rubbing half a lemon over any surface with hard-water stains will break down the grime. You’ll have sparkling faucets and sinks, and your home will smell great too.

16. Clean the Mattress by Jumping on the Bed

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16. Clean the Mattress by Jumping on the Bed

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Even though Better Homes and Gardens suggests that the kids do this, why would you pass up the opportunity to jump on the bed? The jumping will bring dust to the surface of the mattress and then you can just vacuum it.

16. Clean the Mattress by Jumping on the Bed

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Even though Better Homes and Gardens suggests that the kids do this, why would you pass up the opportunity to jump on the bed? The jumping will bring dust to the surface of the mattress and then you can just vacuum it.

17. Clean the Dishwasher with Baking Soda and Vinegar

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17. Clean the Dishwasher with Baking Soda and Vinegar

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An effortless way to clean your dishwasher, according to Better Homes and Gardens, is to put a cup of baking soda at the bottom of the empty dishwasher and leave it overnight. Then use vinegar instead of detergent and run the hottest possible cycle.

17. Clean the Dishwasher with Baking Soda and Vinegar

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An effortless way to clean your dishwasher, according to Better Homes and Gardens, is to put a cup of baking soda at the bottom of the empty dishwasher and leave it overnight. Then use vinegar instead of detergent and run the hottest possible cycle.

18. Vacuum the Window Treatments

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18. Vacuum the Window Treatments

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Instead of taking down curtains and drapes, washing them and then taking ages to hang them again, Better Homes and Gardens suggests that you shake them to remove any loose dust. Then use the upholstery attachment and vacuum them from top to bottom.

18. Vacuum the Window Treatments

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Instead of taking down curtains and drapes, washing them and then taking ages to hang them again, Better Homes and Gardens suggests that you shake them to remove any loose dust. Then use the upholstery attachment and vacuum them from top to bottom.

19. Clean the Blender in a Flash

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19. Clean the Blender in a Flash

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A quick and easy way to clean the blender is to add some water and dish washing liquid and then run the blender for a few minutes. Afterwards, just rinse it. However, as Simplemost points out, you need to clean the blender right after you’ve used it or you’ll have double the work later on.

19. Clean the Blender in a Flash

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A quick and easy way to clean the blender is to add some water and dish washing liquid and then run the blender for a few minutes. Afterwards, just rinse it. However, as Simplemost points out, you need to clean the blender right after you’ve used it or you’ll have double the work later on.

20. Don’t Do it Alone

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20. Don’t Do it Alone

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As Organized Home says, teamwork will get the job done in a fraction of the time. Get the whole family or your roommates involved, put on some music and make cleaning day a social event.